Comics212.net
CB,
Thanks for the words about CBG, though I think if I googled "damning with faint praise" I would probably arrive here just as easily :) I think it's perhaps premature to label CBG is in an intermediate stage, though it could well be I don't fully understand your definition of that. Nor, honestly, did the word "webmag" ever enter into any discussions Alan and I had about revamping the site. I think of SeqTart or PopImage (when I think of them at all--zing!) as webmags, in that they have periodic updates rather than something new every work day. The increased number of contributors to the new CBG shouldn't make us a webmag, I don't think, and the only "stage" we're in is one where we're actually trying to put up a couple of good columns and/or reviews every workday by some of the best online writers about comics, so hopefully there's nothing intermediate about that, though of course nothing is ever permanent.
The Heidi thing is disappointing, both that she felt the need to twist our humble (yet life-affirming and utterly necessary to everyone) relaunch into some half-assed controversy, and that you and others would rather mention that than, you know, read the content on the site and talk about THAT. One thing ADD and I are trying to do is to run good stuff without getting mired in a lot of negativity and rants and feuds, and unfortunately, you tend to get less press that way, but so be it. Suffice to say, good female writers about comics are always welcome, but just in terms of numbers it's a smaller pool of women writing about comics, and among them, some have been asked and declined for various reasons, but we're still looking. I'd say it's a common problem for every multiple-writer site aside from SeqTart, really, so not sure why we were singled out other than laziness and as a lead-in to the rest of Heidi's piece, which quite rightly chastised/encouraged SeqTart to better promote themselves.
Great piece below about licensing, thanks!
Christopher Allen
www.chrisallenonline.com
www.comicbookgalaxy.com
Chris: I dunno why you guys over at CBG seem to think I have half an ass, but as I have repeatedly made clear, I actually tried to recruit women for a blog myself, and they aren't that interested in participating. It was a COMMENT not a controversy.
Chris: Sorry I couldn't come again. This time it was a logistical snafu...I really am bummed, and even more bummed that I missed TCAF. Thanks for the kind words. The panel souds very very interesting!
Expect more PopImage content when we're not all working ourselves to death - we're far from a group blog but i believe what keeps us from being strictly defined as a web-mag is that we're more personable - as in, not so much a publication as it is, people
though i believe we are the only site left that is completely free, all contributors work freely, every banner you see is a link to a friend [ not sure if st banners are the same ], no donations and nothing for sale - despite which we stay alive out of a mutual love of the medium
ltr
Concerning TokyoPop loosing their licensing gigs.
Over a year ago, reliable sources in the foreign market editing world, had already cued me in on this happening. Only the story they told was that TokyoPop had broken some issues concerning their contracts with these Japanese companies, and that when their licences expired, TokyoPop wasn't going to be allowed to renew its North American publishing rights to the major Japanese publishers such as Shueisha (Marmalade Boy, Kodacha), Kodansha (Sailor Moon, Card Captor Sakura, Rayearth, etc) and Kadokawa (Clover, Wish, etc). Just looking on TokyoPop's site, I see this is all coming true. Besides the titles you've mentioned, Card Captor Sakura 1-6 is out of print and now I see Clover is too. These were just a few best-selling CLAMP titles and if this keeps coming true, it looks like they're destined to loose all CLAMP titles. If TokyoPop can no longer carry these credible sellers; ever-green books, then what will their company sustain on? Cinemanga? How would they stop Disney, Nickelodeon, or Cartoon Network from putting out their own type of "cinemanga"? They can't. This doesn't look good for TokyoPop.
Tavisha-
The "Out of print" you found is from the first version of Card Captor Sakura, the new edition is still in print (and a proven seller). While the Shueisha rumours may pan out over time, in the past 2 years Tokyopop has lost several high-profile Kodansha series to Del Rey, but they've also announced a number of new series with Kodansha and Kadokawa. While it's likely all of Shueisha's titles will appear at Viz from now on, I don't personally think that Tokyopop is in any trouble at all. They've got a lot of market penetration and knowledge that will keep licensors like Nickelodeon on board for the forseeable future, though who knows in the world of licensing?
I'm sure your ass is complete. I bet everyone's ass here is complete. But if it isn't, don't fucking tell me. Yuck.
Heidi,
Fair enough on the comment vs. controversy. It just seemed a little odd to make it at all. Anyway, we do hope to put more "gal" into the Galaxy soon; we've just had bad luck with previous female contributors. The woman with the Cerebus column a couple years ago naturally hit a roadblock; one girl found that high school demanded all her time; and then there was that glorious first month with Johanna. Okay, so our track record could be better! Rest assured I respect your ass, or as much of it as you're willing to put into The Beat.
Chris
"Thanks for the words about CBG, though I think if I googled "damning with faint praise" I would probably arrive here just as easily :) I think it's perhaps premature to label CBG is in an intermediate stage, though it could well be I don't fully understand your definition of that."
I don't think the site is what Alan wants it to be, I think it's on the way there. That's what I meant by 'intermediate'. I spent some time reading the site today and... yeah. I stand by intermediate. The content is all over the place and everyone is really finding their feet. I don't think the site layout makes any sense (the static content is 80% of the screen, the dynamic content is a 150 pixel column.) It's definitely an improvement, but an improvement on the way to what it will eventually be rather than it just being perfect or even plateaued now.
Chris Allen:
Okay, all hatchets buried, and group hugs!
"...(and although this may cause drama and I am sorry, I don't really think The Great Curve is very good.)"
Don't be sorry, Chris. I'm genuinely curious as to why you don't like TGC. Why don't you think it's a good group blog? Thanks.
I also noticed that the new Comic Book Galaxy had only men shown on the writing staff, but I completely forgot about Sequential Tart as a counterpoint. I think that in this period of updated-daily blogs and news sites, the monthly update format of Sequential Tart doesn't help to make it a visible presence on the web. I tend to forget about it until a blogger mentions it. :(
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